Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Carmel, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($251,300 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $202/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $61,123/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Carmel
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $61,123 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$175k less
$251,300 vs $425,900
Arlington
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 84.4°F
Carmel
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Carmel
Median Income
$61,123
$132,859 vs $71,736/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
86% lower
66.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Carmel, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $425,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,499⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $132,859 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 17 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 73.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 98.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Carmel Clay Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 99,453 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 74.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Carmel's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Carmel is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Carmel wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Carmel or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $425,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $132,859), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Carmel, IN are about 790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.